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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A non-governmental organisation, House of Hope, is set to build a primary school in Beitbridge West constituency which will cater for orphans and other vulnerable children. Project coordinator Mr Freddy Sitoboli told stakeholders recently that they had already acquired land from Beitbridge Town Council. He said the school will be constructed in the Mazwilaha area in Ward 10. “We are operating with 20 orphans from Hwunga area who are walking for a long distance to the nearest primary or secondary school,” he said.

“We want to spread our wings by constructing a primary school to cater for children from Hwunga and surrounding areas.” Mr Sitoboli said the organisation was already clearing the land ahead of major civil works. The organisation, he said, was finalising logistical issues.

Civil works are expected to begin any time soon. Mr Sitoboli said the school will have classes from Early Childhood Development up to Grade 7. He said they were worried by the rate at which some children from less privileged families were failing to enrol in schools due to a number of reasons. “You will note that we have children who are failing to access education because of distances or financial resources,” said Mr Sitoboli.

“As House of Hope, we want to complement Government in its quest to improve access to quality education facilities for its citizens.” Mr Sitoboli said the school would be constructed in phases. Beitbridge has 65 primary and 15 secondary schools. The district has an estimated rural population of 100 000.